Mitre 10 Australia has admitted that it engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct and made a false representation about the price of goods when it advertised its '20 per cent off storewide' sale in February this year.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) raised concerns with Mitre 10 that its television and website advertising failed to adequately disclose that a number of products were excluded from the sale held on 13-14 February 2009.
Fuel, rural or agricultural products, tool hire, kitchen and bathroom packages, large kitchen appliances, trade, building materials, café, special orders, products sold under non-Mitre 10 trading names and gift card purchases were excluded from the sale.
The television advertisements, which aired on almost 900 occasions across two days, included small print text about 'terms and conditions in store' but did not say what these were. The internet advertising on Mitre 10's home page did not refer to any terms and conditions.
ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel said companies must ensure terms and conditions applicable to any sale were adequately disclosed to consumers. When promoting a sale any exclusions must be clearly defined.
As part of court enforceable undertakings accepted by the ACCC, Mitre 10 will not repeat the conduct and implement a rigorous and comprehensive trade practices compliance program designed to minimise the risk of future breaches of the consumer protection provisions of the Act.
RELATED ARTICLES
- Harvey Norman fined $1.25M
- ACCC gives in to Metcash
- ACCC considers federal courts' decision
- Metcash finally takes over Franklins
- ACCC reviewing Woolies' liquor deal
1,809
